William h



-PATENT UEEICE.

WILLIAM* H. BELL, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

INTRENCH vSP1?CIIFICATION forming part of Letters Appncaion 'filed March 27, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BELL, a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, and a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Canteen and Intrenchin g-Tool; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

\ My invention relates to improvements in intrenching tools, adapted to be carried on canteens, and it consists in certain novel feav tures hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several vlews.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved combination canteen and intrenching tool. Fig. 2 represents an end view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a perspective View of the intrenching tool detached.

.A represents the canteen which is constructed in the usual way, and is provided With a stopper A connected to the canteen by the chain a attached near the base of the neck of the canteen a, as shown in Fig 2. Eyes a2 are provided in the sides of the canteen for the purpose of attaching the lanyard a3 Which steadies the intrenching tool. The canteen is suspended by means of strap C in the usual way.

B represents the intrenching tool or shovel, which is provided with two handles B one on either side of the aperature BO or loop which is adapted to allow the neck of the canteen to enter freely. The intrenching tool is made of such a form as to fit the contour of the canteen more or less accurately, and is stiffened by ribs b and b', which preferably run down to a tip b2, which Serves as the point of the shovel or trowel-like intrenching tool. These Vribs may be made either integral with the intrenching tool, or may be riveted or other- Wise attached thereto, and the shape Aot' these ribs may bevaried at will. For purposes of ornamentation the ribs may be curved up- ING-TOOL.

Patent No. 506,091, dated October 3, 1893.

Serial No. 467,849. (No model.)

ward as shown at b', or may be arranged in any desired manner.

The canteen and intrenching tool are ordinarily carried as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but when it is desired to use the intrenching tool, the stopper A of the canteen is temporarily removed from the nozzle, or neck thereof, the intrenching tool is slipped over the neck, the stopper is replaced and the tool is ready for use.

To use the intrenching tool it is grasped by both the handles B', and is used tirst with the concave side next the person and tool nearly perpendicular to break up the earth; and when sufficient earth is broken the tool is turned over and used as a shovel to throw out the broken earth. In sand or lose earth the latter method is used entirely.

By having the vintrenching tool provided with two handles, the weight of the whole body may be better applied in digging with the tool, and there is a less tendency of the tool to upset than is the case with a shovel or t`rowel of the ordinary construction.

It will be seen that the tool occupies very little room, and is not llikely to swing about on the canteen or interfere with the movements of the person carrying the same; also that the canteen can be used for drinking without removing the intrenching tool, the distance between the handles B being sufficient for the admission of the parts of the face contiguous to the mouth.

The tool may be made of steel, aluminum bronze, or any other metal suitable for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

' 1. An intrenching tool adapted to be atfy tached to a canteen, provided with an apo??- ture or loop adapted to slip over the neck f the canteen, and a body fitting snugly over the side of the canteen, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. An intrenching tool adapted to be attached to a canteen, provided with a loop adapted to slip over the neck of the canteen canteen, and two handles placed one at either and a body fitting snugly over the side of the side of said loop, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. An intrenching tool adapted to be 2.1:-,

tached to a canteen, provided with an aperture or loop Bo adapted to slip over the neck of the canteen, handles B on either side of Said aperture, and strengthening ribs on the back of said tool, terminating in a point b2, and connected to said handles, the said tool fitting snugly over the side of the canteen, ro

substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM H. BELL.

Vituesses:

T. E. WATERS, W. H. BELL, Jr. 

